Everything was set up for Sunday to be a party for the Bucs and their fans. After four straight wins saw them go from 4-7 to 8-7, they had a chance to clinch the NFC South on New Year’s Eve and ring in 2024 the way they did 2023: with a division title. Instead, Tampa Bay came out flat and never recovered. New Orleans took advantage, winning 23-13 to ensure that the division race will come down to the final weekend of the regular season.

The Saints made sure to let everyone in the stadium know that this wasn’t going to be a party from kickoff through the end of the night, putting together an easy and lengthy touchdown drive to open the game. A couple of third-down conversions highlighted the possession, with the second conversion being a 4-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Juwan Johnson on 3rd & Goal. That capped off a 14-play, 73-yard drive that took 7:56 off the clock and gave New Orleans a 7-0 lead.

Bucs OC Dave Canales and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After that touchdown, Baker Mayfield and the offense got off to its slowest start in weeks. A three-and-out gave the ball right back to the Saints, then the Bucs were bailed out twice by third-down penalties on their second drive only for Mayfield to be intercepted by Alontae Taylor on a deep ball intended for Trey Palmer.

Following the turnover, the Saints looked to be on the move again. They converted a 3rd & 8 from their own 4-yard line, with Carr and Johnson linking up for a 32-yard gain. The drive eventually got into Bucs territory, but a Yaya Diaby tackle for loss on second down and a third-down sack by fellow rookie Markees Watts forced another New Orleans punt.

The Bucs offense once again did nothing with the ball, going three-and-out while actually going backward. To make matters worse, Jake Camarda delivered a short punt, which set the Saints up with a first down from their own 40.

With a couple of third-down conversions — getting to 5-of-7 on the day — New Orleans was just outside the red zone at the two-minute warning. And on the first play after the break, Carr threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Taysom Hill, putting the visitors up 14-0.

The Bucs offense then responded the same way it had throughout the first half, going three-and-out. Mayfield was nearly intercepted on first down, then he missed Chris Godwin on second down. One play later, Mayfield ran into a sack. Then, Camarda delivered just a 28-yard punt, giving New Orleans starting field position inside Tampa Bay territory.

Bucs WRs Trey Palmer, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Saints didn’t move the ball much after the punt, but they didn’t need to. A seven-play, 19-yard drive ended with Blake Grupe hitting a 45-yard field goal to make it a 17-0 New Orleans lead. After the Bucs took a knee to run out the final nine seconds of the first half, they hit the locker room to some boos from the home crowd.

At halftime, Tampa Bay had just 44 yards of offense. The defense allowed New Orleans to go 6-of-9 on third downs and the visitors held the ball for 19:46 of the first 30 minutes.

There wasn’t any sort of response by the Bucs when the second half began. Both teams went three-and-out to open the third quarter and then, just as Dave Canales’ offense began to move the ball, Rachaad White lost a fumble in New Orleans territory. The Saints turned that into a seven-play, 45-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard Grupe field goal that made it a 20-0 game with 4:25 left in the third.

The Bucs found nothing offensively on their next drive, and the Saints carried a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter. After Mayfield threw his second interception of the day early in the quarter, the offense finally put something together. Mayfield led an eight-play, 91-yard drive that included a fourth-down conversion and ended with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Trey Palmer. With 7:50 to go, Tampa Bay trailed 20-7.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

The Saints killed plenty of time on their next drive and knocked through another field goal to make it 23-7.

Tampa Bay eventually did score again, with Mayfield hitting Chris Godwin for a 47-yard touchdown. But after offsetting penalties on a successful two-point conversion, Mayfield was intercepted on the retry. That led to a 23-13 finish in favor of the Saints.

Baker Mayfield had what was probably his worst game of the season, completing 22 of his 33 attempts for 309 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Most of his production came over the final eight minutes of the game, once the Bucs had dug themselves a hole.

Mike Evans was targeted just four times in the game, catching three passes for a pretty harmless 70 yards. Chris Godwin’s late 47-yard touchdown catch rescued what was a quiet day for him as well. Trey Palmer ended the day as the offense’s leading receiver, catching four of his five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown, though he did end the day with a fumble after the offense’s longest play of the afternoon.

Rachaad White ran 11 times for just 42 yards and caught four passes for 24 yards, failing to provide Tampa Bay with any of the juice he delivered in recent weeks.

The Saints finished the day 8-of-18 on third downs and dominated in time of possession, holding the ball for 36:38 to the Bucs’ 23:22.

The Bucs (8-8) will now have their season come down to Week 18. They’ll head to Charlotte to face the Panthers (2-14) next weekend, with the date and kickoff time set to be announced later Sunday.